Public Document Pack Jeff Hughes Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services MEETING : DISTRICT PLANNING EXECUTIVE PANEL VENUE : COUNCIL CHAMBER, WALLFIELDS, HERTFORD DATE : MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 TIME : 7.00 PM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL Councillors M Carver (Chairman), L Haysey and S Rutland-Barsby All other Members are invited to attend and participate if they so wish. Members are requested to retain their copy of the agenda and bring it to the relevant Executive and Council meetings. CONTACT OFFICER: Martin Ibrahim Tel: 01279-502173 Email: [email protected] This agenda has been printed using 100% recycled paper DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS 1. A Member, present at a meeting of the Authority, or any committee, sub-committee, joint committee or joint sub-committee of the Authority, with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in any matter to be considered or being considered at a meeting: • must not participate in any discussion of the matter at the meeting; • must not participate in any vote taken on the matter at the meeting; • must disclose the interest to the meeting, whether registered or not, subject to the provisions of section 32 of the Localism Act 2011; • if the interest is not registered and is not the subject of a pending notification, must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days; • must leave the room while any discussion or voting takes place. 2. A DPI is an interest of a Member or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they were civil partners) within the descriptions as defined in the Localism Act 2011. 3. The Authority may grant a Member dispensation, but only in limited circumstances, to enable him/her to participate and vote on a matter in which they have a DPI. 4. It is a criminal offence to: • fail to disclose a disclosable pecuniary interest at a meeting if it is not on the register; • fail to notify the Monitoring Officer, within 28 days, of a DPI that is not on the register that a Member disclosed to a meeting; • participate in any discussion or vote on a matter in which a Member has a DPI; • knowingly or recklessly provide information that is false or misleading in notifying the Monitoring Officer of a DPI or in disclosing such interest to a meeting. (Note: The criminal penalties available to a court are to impose a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale and disqualification from being a councillor for up to 5 years.) Audio/Visual Recording of meetings Everyone is welcome to record meetings of the Council and its Committees using whatever, non-disruptive, methods you think are suitable, which may include social media of any kind, such as tweeting, blogging or Facebook. However, oral reporting or commentary is prohibited. If you have any questions about this please contact Democratic Services (members of the press should contact the Press Office). Please note that the Chairman of the meeting has the discretion to halt any recording for a number of reasons, including disruption caused by the filming or the nature of the business being conducted. Anyone filming a meeting should focus only on those actively participating and be sensitive to the rights of minors, vulnerable adults and those members of the public who have not consented to being filmed. AGENDA 1. Apologies To receive apologies for absence. 2. Chairman's Announcements 3. Minutes (Pages 5 - 14) To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 22 October 2014. 4. Declarations of Interests To receive any Member(s)’ Declaration(s) of Interest 5. The Bishop's Stortford Goods Yard Update Report (Pages 15 - 74) 6. Draft District Plan – Retail and Town Centres Policy Critical Friend Appraisal (November 2014) (Pages 75 - 100) 7. Authority Monitoring Report 2013/14 (Pages 101 - 176) 8. Delivery Study Update Report (Pages 177 - 202) 9. Duty to Co-operate Update Report (Pages 203 - 220) 10. Draft District Plan Chapters 17-19: Response to Issues Raised During Preferred Options Consultation and Draft Revised Chapters (Pages 221 - 324) 11. Urgent Business To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information. Agenda Item 3 DP DP MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE DISTRICT PLANNING EXECUTIVE PANEL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WALLFIELDS, HERTFORD ON WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2014, AT 7.00 PM PRESENT: Councillor M Carver (Chairman) Councillors L Haysey and S Rutland-Barsby. ALSO PRESENT: Councillors D Andrews, E Buckmaster, G Jones, J Jones, M McMullen, P Moore, M Newman, T Page, M Pope, P Ruffles, K Warnell and G Williamson. OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE: Chris Butcher - Senior Planning Officer Isabelle Haddow - Planning Officer Martin Ibrahim - Democratic Services Team Leader Lorraine Kirk - Senior Communications Officer Kay Mead - Senior Planning Officer Martin Paine - Senior Planning Officer Laura Pattison - Assistant Planning Officer George Pavey - Assistant Planning/Technical Officer Jenny Pierce - Senior Planning Officer Claire Sime - Planning Policy Team Leader Page 5 DP DP Kevin Steptoe - Head of Planning and Building Control Services ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Paul Jobson - Peter Brett Associates 11 EAST HERTS GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS AND TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL SITES STUDY, SEPTEMBER 2014 The Panel considered a report presenting the findings of the East Herts Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Identification of Potential Sites Study, September 2014. This made recommendations on the manner in which the identified accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople could potentially be met in the District for the period to 2031. Before any consideration of the report, Officers advised that a few factual inaccuracies concerning two existing authorised sites detailed in the study had come to light. These were not of a material nature and would be corrected in the final version. The Panel Chairman welcomed Paul Jobson, Peter Brett Associates, who was in attendance to give a presentation on the Identification of Potential Sites Study (IOPS). Mr Jobson detailed: • the purpose of the IOPS and national policy requirements; • existing provision and needs within East Herts; • potential assessment areas and site criteria; • sources of sites for assessment; and • the outcomes of the Study. In response to various questions, Mr Jobson and Officers outlined the consultation that had taken place with Page 6 DP DP stakeholders, which had included onsite meetings. They referred to the reasons why some publicly owned land had been identified as unsuitable sites as set out in Appendix D of the Study. It was emphasised that the District Plan would need to identify a five year supply of specific deliverable sites in the plan making period. In terms of determining planning applications, these would need to be considered on their merits in accordance with policies within the adopted Local Plan (or District Plan when adopted), along with Planning policy for travellers guidance and the National Planning Policy Framework. The Panel Chairman added that no decisions on suggested sites were being proposed at this meeting and that the proposed working group would consider further the site options of the IOPS. The Council would follow the same approach in respect of Green Belt considerations towards potential traveller sites as the principles being used towards potential site allocations for general housing. The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed. RECOMMENDED – that (A) the East Herts Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Identification of Potential Sites Study, September 2014, be agreed as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan; (B) the East Herts Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Identification of Potential Sites Study, September 2014, be agreed to inform Development Management decisions; and (C) in light of the potential site options suggested in the Identification of Potential Sites Study, a joint Member/Officer Working Group be established to take forward the requirement to provide sufficient pitches and plots to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers Page 7 DP DP and Travelling Showpeople and to formulate an appropriate policy approach. 12 MEAD LANE URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK Consideration was given to a report presenting the main issues raised during the consultation on the draft Mead Lane Urban Design Framework (UDF). The report also sought agreement that the proposed amendments be made, and that the UDF be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document to the East Herts Local Plan, Second Review, April 2007 (Saved Policies). In response to Members’ questions, Officers advised that discussions with the County Council over education provision were ongoing and reference was made to the outcome of a recent planning application relating to Simon Balle School. Although the UDF made reference to the general character of the area, its purpose was to provide a broad framework. If adopted, it would be given significant weight in the planning application process. The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed. RECOMMENDED – that (A) the issues raised during the public consultation on the draft Mead Lane Urban Design Framework, together with the Officer responses, be agreed; (B) in light of the responses received, the suggested amendments to the document be agreed; and (C) the Mead Lane Urban Design Framework be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document to the East Herts Local Plan, Second Review, April 2007 (Saved Policies). Page 8 DP DP 13 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING GUIDANCE NOTE The Panel considered a proposal to publish an updated guidance note on Neighbourhood Planning. A number of amendments had been made to the original Interim Guidance Note to reflect the requirements of the Town and Country Planning England Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and to update and clarify the process and support available.